Is the Shinkansen automated?

While operations such as emergency stops will be conducted by the driver, the trains will adjust their speed and stop at stations automatically. JR Tokai has been conducting test runs of Tokaido Shinkansen trains equipped with the automated operation system since November 2021.



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Automatically operated shinkansen trains could be right around the bend. Central Japan Railway and East Japan Railway aim to commercialize driverless systems in around 2028 for the Tokaido Shinkansen and the mid-2030s for the Joetsu Shinkansen, respectively.

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The semi-automatic system includes an advanced feature that allows the train to run at higher speeds than usual until it reaches a slowdown section -- established in the event of bad weather along the route or for other reasons -- to compensate for the delay caused by a projected slowdown.

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Human drivers normally accelerate, decelerate and stop the Shinkansen at the right place at the station platforms. The automatic train control (ATC) system currently in place supports the driver by determining the optimal speed limit according to data such as the distance from the train ahead.

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In Japan, the high-speed Shinkansen trains spray water onto snowy tracks to prevent the snow from blowing up into the undercarriage and re-freezing. In all areas with extreme winter conditions, de-icing, like in the airline industry, is essential.

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Automation of London Underground rolling stock has been partially implemented since the introduction of automatic train operation on the Hainault to Woodford section of the Central line in 1964. It is currently in use on six lines. Transport for London plans to extend this to remaining lines by 2023.

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Fully automated trains have been around a surprisingly long time – the first opened in Kobe, Japan, in 1981, and they now operate in over 40 cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Paris, Singapore, Dubai, and London.

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The ATC system prevents high-speed passenger train-on-train collisions and excessive speeds. The advanced ATC system exercises complete control over the entire dedicated track and every operating train, preventing train-on-train collisions and excessive speed.

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For example, the Japanese N700 Series Shinkansen may tilt up to one degree on the Tokaido Shinkansen, allowing the trains to maintain 270 km/h (168 mph) even on 2,500 m (8,200 ft) radius curves that previously had a maximum speed of 255 km/h (158 mph).

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All seats on shinkansen trains can be turned by 180 degrees, allowing travelers to always face forward. The seats are turned by the staff at the terminal stations, but can also be turned by passengers, for example, to create a group of four or six seats facing each other.

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Driverless trains have been in operation on the Docklands Light Railway since it opened in 1987, though a train attendant is present to operate the doors and drive the train if needed.

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Essentially, the height and distance between the train and the platform are not the same on each station. This is one of the key issues holding back the automation of the tube, according to the TfL document.

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London's second rapid-transit system, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), has operated with driverless trains since its opening in 1987.

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Depending on the operating company, the networks are known as Shinkansen Free Wi-Fi, JR-EAST FREE Wi-Fi and JR-WEST FREE Wi-Fi. All shinkansen are equipped with multiple toilets, which are sometimes separated by gender. The toilets are Western-style except on some older train sets.

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Bullet Train Speeds and Safety Despite these insane speeds, bullet trains are remarkably safe. In fact, the Shinkansen has had no accidents since its creation in 1964. That's over 50 years accident-free. Punctuality and safety are only two of the train's most advantageous features.

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